Russia¿s Orthodox Church. Religious fundamentalism and its international implications in the past, presence, and future

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject Politics - Region: Russia, grade: 1,0, University of Wroc¿aw (Institute of Political Science), course: Religious Fundamentalism in the Contemporary World, language: English, abstract: The text discusses the role and influence of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in contemporary Russia, particularly since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It highlights the significant increase in the number of Russians identifying with Orthodoxy, which now surpasses two-thirds of the population, reflecting a revival of religious identity and national pride. Emphasizing the connection between the Russian Orthodox Church and the preservation of Russia's historical greatness, the text explores the church's role in upholding the memory of past achievements, including military victories, literary traditions, space exploration, and the resilience of the Russian people. It notes the high levels of trust in the church and the military compared to other institutions within Russia. The paper aims to analyze the ROC as a religious fundamentalist group on an international scale. It covers various aspects such as the identification of the ROC as a fundamentalist group, details about its leadership, size, and structure, a historical overview of its development, challenges faced, initiatives taken, and successes achieved in meeting its goals. Furthermore, the text aims to forecast the future impact of the ROC both locally and globally, considering its media presence and public opinion. It concludes by shedding light on recent events and providing a brief glimpse into potential future developments of the Russian Orthodox Church.